Edgar Allan Poe's notable verses range from the early masterpiece “To Helen” to the dark, mysterious “Ulalume.” From “The Raven,” which made him world-famous upon its publication in 1845, to “Annabel Lee,” the posthumously published eulogy for a maiden “in a kingdom by the sea.” Poe first published “The Lake” in his 1827 collection "Tamerlane and Other Poems," but it appeared again two years later in the collection "Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane, and Minor Poems" with a mysterious dedication added to the title: “The Lake. To–.” The subject of Poe's dedication remains unidentified to this day. Historians have suggested Poe wrote the poem about Lake Drummond and that he might have visited Lake Drummond with his foster mother, but the poem was published after her death. One of the things that stands out in the poem is the way Poe contrasts the dark imagery and danger of the lake with a feeling of contentment and even pleasure in the thrill of his surroundings. He refers to the "loneliness" as "lovely," and later describes his "delight" at waking to "the terror on the lone lake.” Poe draws on the legend of the lake to tap into its inherent dangers, but at the same time, he revels in the beauty of the nature surrounding him. The poem closes with Poe's exploration of the circle of life. Though he refers to "death" in a "poisonous wave," he describes its location as "Eden," an obvious symbol for the emergence of life. You can listen online to free English audiobook “The Lake” by Edgar Allan Poe on our website.
